Connector assembly for door partition



Oct. 25, 1966 A. PEPITONE CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY FOR DOOR PARTITION 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Q HE;

Filed Sept. 10, 1964 INVENTOR AME/P055 PZP/ TO/VP ATTORNEY Oct. 25, 1966A. PEPITONE 3,280,526

CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY FOR DOOR PARTITION Filed Sept. 10, 1964 2Sheets-Sheet 2 IIllllllllllll'llllllllnl INVENTOR #452055 PHD/704M;

FIG. 7

Mg/wm ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,280,526 CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY FURDOOR PARTITION Ambrose Pepitone, Brooklyn, N.Y., assignor to Torjesen,Inc, Brooklyn, N .Y., a corporation of New York Filed Sept. 10, 1964,Ser. No. 395,459 3 Claims. (Cl. 52240) This invention relates to apartition device, and more particularly to a partition wall device ofthe type wherein a series of individual panels are shiftablelongitudinally along a track between a stored position and an edge toedge abutting position, the panel members in the latter named positionforming a dividing wall.

Still more particularly, this invention relates to a partition assemblyof the type described wherein individual, separately moveable panels areintegrated into a unitary composite partition, each of the member panelsof the partition being provided with a pneumatic seal assembly forforming a seal between the panel and the surfaces adjacent the upper andlower edges of the panel.

Still more particularly, this invention relates to a novel connectordevice for providing an air passage between adjacent panel members, thedevice automatically connecting adjacent panels when the same areshifted to the edge to edge abutting position thereof, and automaticallydisconnecting said passage when the panels are spread apart, as forstorage.

The invention, in its more particular form, contemplates novel mechanismfor adapting known air coupling fixtures for use on individual panels ofa partition assembly whereby the connector fixtures will beautomatically coupled when an adjacent pair of panels is shifted to edgeto edge abutting position and will be automatically disconnected whenthe same are separated.

It is known to provide a variety of types of panel structures withpneumatically actuated seal forming mechanisms for forming a mechanicalseal between the lower edge of a panel and the floor and/or between theupper edge of the panel and an overhead structure. Suitable pneumaticstructures are shown in United States Patents 3,086,261 and 3,126,050.

Various means for forming a pneumatic coupling between the seal membersof individual adjacent panels have been suggested.

The present invention relates to automatic means for adapting a socalled snap air coupling as exemplified by the coupling shown in UnitedStates Patent Re. 23,120, to render the same subject to use as thecoupling mechanism in a partition assembly whereby the act of slidingthe panels into edge to edge abutting position automatically couples theair mechanisms of adjacent panels and wherein the forces which effect aseparation of the said panels automatically uncouple the same.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an automaticair coupling for adjacent leaves or panels of a partition formingassembly or the like.

A further object of the invention is the adaptation for automaticoperation of a conventional snap coupling device.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a partitionassembly incorporating novel coupling and uncoupling devices,automatically engage-ables as the individual panel members are movedtogether and automatically disengaged as these parts are separated.

To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein orbe herein-after pointed out, reference is made to the accompanyingdrawings forming a part hereof, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of a partition assemblyin accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of a seal and 'ice coupling betweenadjacent panels, parts being broken away to show details of constructionof the seal;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical section through a coupling device in accordancewith the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal section taken along. the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 are views similar to FIGURE 4, showing the positionof the parts, respectively in the partially coupled, fully coupled andpartially uncoupled positions thereof.

In accordance with the invention, there is diagrammatically shown inFIGURE 1 a series of panels 10 supported for translatory movement by anoverhead track 11. The doors are shiftable between edge to edge abuttingposition, as shown in FIGURE 1, to side by side stored position, i.e. inparallelism with panel 10a, FIGURE 1. Various mechanisms, not forming apart of this invention, are adapted for the movement of the panels alongthe track and for the storage of such panels in side by side relation.Since the movement and storage mechanism form no part of the presentinvention, no further reference need be made thereto.

Each of the panels incorporates a pneumatic seal mechanism 12, as bestshown in FIGURE 2, suitable mechanisms being shown in United StatesPatents Nos. 3,086,261 and 3,126,050. The mechanisms do not form a partof this invention but generally consist of an expansion member 13 whichmay be inflated within a containing space provided by movable shellmember 14 on a block 15 fixed to the door. It will be recognized thatwhen the expansion member 13 is inflated with air, the movable shellmember is shifted downwardly, causing the resilient seal structure 16 tobe pressed against the floor.

Preferably there is provided an automatic compressor assembly 17, FIGURE1, which serves to keep the air pressure within the system at apredetermined level calculated to maintain the seal members 16 againstthe floor.

The present invention relates to a novel coupling assembly 20 embodiedin adjacent doors or panels for forming a series of pneumaticconnections between adjacent panels so that pressure applied by thecompressor member 17 reaches each of the pneumatic seal actuatingassemblies 12. In accordance with the invention, the coupling assembly20 includes a male component 21 projecting from an edge portion of onepanel and directed toward a female component 22 of an adjacent panel,the female component being recessed within the material forming thepanel. Each of the components 20, 21 has mounted thereon a part of aknown snap coupling device, a suitable device being fully illustrated inUnited States Patent Reissue 23;120. A full description of the snapcoupling illustrated in the present embodiment need not be made sincethe same appears in the above noted reissue patent, the coupling itselfbeing described herein only to the extent necessary to illustrate theinvention.

The coupling includes a tubular body portion 23, having mounted thereona collar 24 which is spring biased to the position shown in FIGURE 3. Adetent operator 25 yieldably projects from the front end of the bodymember 23, the collar 24 being biased toward the detent operator member.

The snap connector includes a plug member 26 insertible into a boreformed within the body portion 23. The connection between the plugmember 26 and the plug receiver member 27 is eifected by inserting theplug member 26 into the bore until the detent operator 25 is locatedagainst and depressed by abutment portion 26a formed on plug member 26.Mechanism supported within the plug receiver member 27 acts, in theabutting and compressing positions of parts 25 and 27 aforesaid, to bepressed into annular groove 28 formed in plug 26 to maintain the plugreceiver member in the seated position over the plug member 26.

It will be understood that when the receiver member is thus seated overthe plug member, a substantially leak free air connection is effectedbetween the said parts. It is important to note that separation of theparts 26, 27 cannot be accomplished without first retracting orwithdrawing collar 24 in the direction of the detent operating member25. More specifically, separation of the parts 26, 27 must be precededby a movement of the collar 24 toward the left, as shown in FIGURE 3.The apparatus of the present invention automatically effects theaforesaid operation of retracting the collar to permit separation of thelocked together snap connector parts in advance of any relative movementof the air conductor components of the snap connector.

The plug member 26 is mounted on a securing bracket 30 fixed to an edge31 of a panel member 10. The bracket, which is mortised into the core ofthe door, includes upper and lower aligning apertures 32, 33 and avertical, rearwardly disposed web 34 integrally formed with horizontalextension legs 35, 36. A slide aperture 37 is formed in web 34.

The member 26 is connected to slide spool 39, the outer end of which ismade fast to air conduit 38. The slide spool 39 includes a pair ofspaced annular shoulders 40, 41 to either side of the Web 34, a centralreduced portion 42 of the spool lying within and forming a sliding fitwith the aperture 37.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the air conduit 38 and spool 39which carries the plug 26 are axially movably mounted with respect tothe web 34 within limits defined by the spacing between shoulders 46 and41.

The plug receiver component 27 of the fastener assembly is made fast toa bracket 56 carried on the adjacent face of the next succeeding panel10. The receiver member 27 is fixed to the bracket 50 as by clamp nuts51, 52 lying to either side of the bracket. Additionally, extending fromthe bracket are a pair of locator studs 54, 55, the studs beingpreferably beveled or tapered at their end portions 56, 57. Preferablythe locating apertures 32, 33 of bracket 30 are similarly beveled tofacilitate the alignment and insertion of the studs 54, 55. 7

Referring now to FIGURES 3 and 4, the Web 34 forms a support forpivotally mounted clamp leaves 60, 61. The leaves are notched as at 62,the notches being fitted within suitably spaced apertures formed in theweb 34, the leaves 60, 61 being thus pivotally mounted to the web 34 sothat their free ends 63, 64 are movable toward and away from each other.A pair of coiled springs 65, 66 are connected in a tensioned conditionin spanning relation of the leaves and tend to urge the free ends 63, 64of the leaves toward each other to the position shown in FIGURE 4. Thesurface of the leaves immediately inward of the ends 63, 64 are formedwith outwardly diverging cam surfaces 67, 68, for purposes which willappear hereafter.

In describing the operation, it is to be assumed that the doors aredisposed in stored or non-partition forming position.

The doors or panels may be shifted across the support track 11 eithermanually or by a suitable motorized mechanism. The pneumatic connectionbetween adjacent doors is formed by merely sliding a pair of adjacentdoors into edge to edge abutting condition. The position of the parts asthey are progressively moved toward each other is shown in FIGURES 3and4.

When the doors as positioned in FIGURE 3 are further shifted toward eachother, the locating studs or pins 54, 55 will enter into locatingapertures 32, 33, respectively, so as to assure accurate positioning ofthe plug 26 with respect to the plug receiver member 27 of theconnection forming component. As the doors continue to be shifted towardeach other from the position of FIGURE 4 to that of FIGURE 5, it will beobserved that the uppermost end of the plug member 26 enters the boreformed in the body portion 23 of the plug receiver member. Further, thecam portions 67, 68 of the leaves 60, 61, respectively, engage againstand are spread by the inwardly moving leading edge of the collar portion24. With continued approach movement between the adjacent doors, theplug member 26 engages against the internal connecting mechanism withinthe plug receiver member 27, urging the spool member outwardly andcausing a sliding of the spool member 39 within aperture 37 so that thespool member shifts outwardly from a position at which shoulder 40engages the web 34 to a position at which the shoulder 41 engages theinner edge of web 34.

With the continued closing movement of the doors, the plug member slidesto the fully inserted or connected position within the plug receivermember 27 and the leaves 66, 61 slide over the outer face of the collar24.

In the'fully engaged position which is shown in FIG- URE 6, relativelysteep cam faces 69, 70 formed on the leaves 69, 61, respectively, lieagainst an annular shoulder portion 24a formed on the trailing face ofthe collar member 24. It will be understood that in the position shownin FIGURE 6, the input conduits are connected to output conduit 38through the medium of engaged connector apparatus.

From the foregoing it should be further understood that the separationof the doors for storage may be effected in the device of the presentinvention through the simple expedient of sliding the doors 10 apart. Itwill be understood that in the first part of said separating movement,the collar 24 will be retracted from the position of FIG- URE 6 to theposition of FIGURE 7 by reason of the engagement between annularshoulder 24a of the collar and the cam surfaces 69, 70 formed on theleaves. Further, the initial separating movements of the doors will beaccommodated by the slip or lost motion connection between the spool 39and the web 34.

The first separating movements of the doors do not result in anyrelative movement between the plug member 26 and the body portion 23 ofthe plug receiver member 27. Rather, this initial relative movement ofthe doors is permitted by the slip fit between the spool 39 and the web34 and enables the leaves 60, 61 to retract the collar 24 in a directionoutwardly of the body portion 23 without any such relative movement.Further separating movement of the doors in turn disconnects andseparates plug 26 and the plug receiver 27 but only after the lockingcollar has previously been withdrawn. With the afore said elementsdisconnected, there is no further obstacle to separation of the adjacentpanels.

Thus, by the simple expedient of the slip fit connection of theconnector member and through the use of the novel camming jaws, it ispossible to accommodate readily available snap connector members to asliding door partition.

Further, the operations which normally require manual attention, i.e.the retraction of the snap connector collar prior to any relativemovement between the snap connector parts, in the present invention areautomatically effected, permitting an air connection to be formedbetween adjacent doors by the simple expedient of sliding doors intoconnection and permitting the connection to be broken by the equallysimple expedient of separating the doors.

The invention is not restricted for use with the specific snap connectorshown, but various other connector mechanisms may be adapted as will bereadily appreciated by a worker in the art.

Having thus described the invention and illustrated its use, what isclaimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a partition structure including a series of panels movable onguide means between edgeto edge abutting and side by side stackedpositions, said panels having floor seal members pneumatically shiftableinto contacting relation with the floor, an air connection assembly forlinking the pneumatic assembly of one panel to that of an adjacent panelfor automatic connection when said panels are moved to abuttingposition, and disconnection when said panels are shifted apart,comprising a male connector member mounted on one said panel, a femaleconnector member mounted on the next adjacent panel and positioned toreceive said male member when said panels are moved to abuttingrelation, one of said connector members being mounted for limitedlongitudinal movement with respect to its supporting panel, lockingmeans mounted on the other said connector member and reciprocablelongitudinally with respect to said panels between locking and releasingpositions of said connector members, for locking said connector membersin the connected position against separating forces exerted between saidconnector members when said locking means is in locking position,gripper means carried by the panel having said one connector member fordrawing said locking means to said releasing position as said panels aremoved apart, said longitudinally movable connector member and saidgripper means providing a slip fit with said locking means whereby, uponseparating movement of an adjacent pair of panels from said edge to edgeabutting position, said one connector member will not move relative tosaid other connector member until said gripper means has moved saidlocking member to the releasing position thereof, further separatingmovement of said panels releasing said gripper means from said lockingmeans.

2. A partition structure comprising first and second doors shiftable ina linear direction on a track into and out of edge to edge abuttingposition, first and second air conduits on said first and second doorsrespectively, said conduits being positioned to be shifted intoengagement in the abutting position of said doors, one of said conduitsbeing mounted for limited reciprocal movement in said linear directionwith respect to its associated door, locking means on other said conduitreciprocably moveable in said linear direction between locking andunlocking positions for locking said conduits against relative movementin the locking position thereof, gripper means carried by the doorhaving said reciprocably moveable conduit, said gripper means beinglocated in potential direct contact with said locking means, saidreciprocally mounted conduit and said gripper means being effective toshift said locking means from said locked to said unlocked position assaid doors are moved out of edge abutting position in advance ofrelative separating movement of said conduits.

3. A device in accordance with claim 2 wherein said locking meanscomprises a collar surrounding said other conduit and said gripper meanscomprises a pair of spring biased fingers having cam entrance portions,said fingers being shifted to collar embracing position as said doorsare moved to said abutting position, said fingers carrying said collarfor a distance with said gripper means as said doors are moved out ofedge to edge abutting position.

References tilted by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 23,1206/1949 Earle et al. 285277 2,921,436 1/1960 Canner 285277 3,126,0503/1964 Lapof 2068 X FOREIGN PATENTS 905,808 9/1962 Great Britain.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

KENNETH DOWNEY, Examiner.

1. IN A PARTITION STRUCTURE INCLUDING A SERIES OF PANELS MOVABLE ONGUIDE MEANS BETWEEN EDGE TO EDGE ABUTTING AND SIDE BY SIDE STACKEDPOSITIONS, SAID PANELS HAVING FLOOR SEAL MEMBERS PNEUMATICALLY SHIFTABLEINTO CONTACTING RELATION WITH THE FLOOR, AN AIR CONNECTION ASSEMBLY FORLINKING THE PNEUMATIC ASSEMBLY OF ONE PANEL TO THAT OF AN ADJACENT PANELFOR AUTOMATIC CONNECTION WHEN SAID PANELS ARE MOVED TO ABUTTINGPOSITION, AND DISCONNECTION WHEN SAID PANELS ARE SHIFTED APART,COMPRISING A MALE CONNECTOR MEMBER MOUNTED ON ONE SAID PANEL, A FEMALECONNECTOR MEMBER MOUNTED ON THE NEXT ADJACENT PANEL AND POSITIONED TORECEIVE SAID MALE MEMBER WHEN SAID PANELS ARE MOVED TO ABUTTINGRELATION, ONE OF SAID CONNECTOR MEMBERS BEING MOUNTED FOR LIMITEDLONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO ITS SUPPORTING PANEL, LOCKINGMEANS MOUNTED ON THE OTHER SAID CONNECTOR MEMBER AND RECIPROCABLELONGITUDINALLY WITH RESPECT TO SAID PANELS BETWEEN LOCKING AND RELEASINGPOSITIONS OF SAID CONNECTOR MEMBERS, FOR LOCKING SAID CONNECTOR MEMBERSIN THE CONNECTED POSITION AGAINST SEPARATING FORCES EXERTED BETWEEN SAIDCONNECTOR MEMBERS WHEN SAID LOCKING MEANS IS IN LOCKING POSITION,GRIPPER MEANS CARRIED BY THE PANEL HAVING SAID ONE CONNECTOR MEMBER FORDRAWING SAID LOCKING MEANS TO SAID RELEASING POSITION AS SAID PANELS AREMOVED APART, SAID LONGITUDINALLY MOVABLE CONNECTOR MEMBER AND SAIDGRIPPER MEANS PROVIDING A SLIP FIT WITH SAID LOCKING MEANS WHEREBY, UPONSEPARATING MOVEMENT OF AN ADJACENT PAIR OF PANELS FROM SAID EDGE TO EDGEABUTTING POSITION, SAID ONE CONNECTOR MEMBER WILL NOT MOVE RELATIVE TOSAID OTHER CONNECTOR MEMBER UNTIL SAID GRIPPER MEANS HAS MOVED SAIDLOCKING MEMBER TO THE RELEASING POSITION THEREOF, FURTHER SEPARATINGMOVEMENT OF SAID PANELS RELEASING SAID GRIPPER MEANS FROM SAID LOCKINGMEANS.